Goal: Revise Formula to make sure funds go where they are needed.
Root Cause: Chapter 70 Formula is outdated and ineffective.
What is the Chapter 70 Formula?
The Chapter 70 Formula is the main system by which local communities recieve state assistance with educational costs.
What is the Issue of the Chapter 70 Formula?
The Chapter 70 Formula has not been updated since it's creation in 1993. This means that certain areas in schools and some schools themself, don't get enough money for what they need.
What we're doing: We are researching
where our school fundings are going and where they should go
who can help us update the formula
who is involved with the Chapter 70 Formula
discussions in various budget meetings
and who will support us.
Where the Money Should Go:
We conducted a survey to ask teachers where they think the money for school funding should go. The results are below:
Budget Meetings: At the most recent meetings, they discussed about the amount of money that has not been raised and with this, costs have risen and there will be cuts that will not interfere. Teachers may be cut due to the amount of children in classes. They are trying to figure out how to operate with 2.5 million dollars less. 21-28 teachers may be cut or all exploritories may be dismantled (art, music, etc.)
Who We Contacted:
Dana Brown
David DeRuossi
Gary Christenson
Christopher Fallon
Arne Duncan
Supporters: Mr. Brown point of view on the school funding issue, students opinions, the budget, others' views, and Chapter 70: ‘’More teachers for pathways program. More technology, ipads, laptops, chromes. Higher job coach/intern coordinator. Right now we are in good shape but for the upcoming year, I am afraid teachers are going to get cut.”“Students in the school would have different opinions depending on maturity level and the way they were brought up.” “Teachers need more materials. Teachers are spending too much of their own money on school materials.” “The fund is governed by the government, and there is only so much the school can give.” “Sometimes people complain about things we don’t have info on. I happen to think this is a very good school both inside and from an outside point of view."“Chapter 70 should be updated and so should the charter schools. The city itself isn’t really contributing with the school. It’s not about how much money we have it’s how we use it. Are we using it the right way?”
Mr. Mastrangelo point of view on the needs in school: “Increase in teachers/staff, We don’t need to update curriculum, just have to focus on increasing the teachers and staff and maintaining the facilities and student programs. We could use more teachers in the math, english, science, and history departments.” “It would give us a better student to teacher ratio." “We didn’t have enough money to keep the teachers.” “Having an ipad for every student would help.” “Sports programs are pretty good, there are no user fees, and we offer a lot of different sports.”
Below is a letter we wrote to the Departement Head of School Funding:
To whom it may concern, In History class, we are currently working on our Generation Citizen project. Our class is researching where school budget money goes and how it works, and our class is also taking steps towards diverting those school budgets to necessary areas which will help the students of MHS and students in general get the education they need and deserve. So please, we ask of you, if you so kindly could accept, to support us in our steps towards a solution to the issue of school funding in any way possible. If you have an opinion on the matter we would love to hear your stance on this issue, and you can contact us at titiflores115@gmail.com Thank You, Tricia Garcia Flores
On The Behalf Of Mr. Copithorne's U.S. History, Honors Class
School Funding. What is more pivotal to our nation than the education of students? They are our future, as times pass, society advances. Soon, the working adults of now will be replaced by the current students. School funding is necessary as without it, students are unable to reach their full potential. This is crucial for the true advancement of us as a nation. Our cause is one that came to fruition, not out of whim, but by careful thought and planning. We are not here pleading or begging for more funding, but what we need is to improve budget placement, as students need more to learn more to be able to succeed in this new world of technology and knowledge-required world. Students are in need of better a learning environment to better their mind for the upcoming real world. The average number of students per teacher declined from 16.0 in 2011–12 to 15.9 in 2012–13, which means while the drop may seem low, it’s there, meaning that less students are getting the help they need. Thought, while we may be but mere students, children really, we understand what we ask of you. We have even reached out to our superintendent of school and we also went as far as contacting our own mayor, which gave us a very in-depth understanding of the issue we are advocating for. So, while we have the superintendent and mayor on our sides, we ask of you as well for support, as its greatly needed and appreciated. School funding is a major problem as students aren’t receiving the education they want, deserve, and need. If the issue of school funding is dealt with, teachers can be hired, textbooks can be bought, more technology for the students can be received, and it is proven with more funding, schools have a higher rate of graduation and students are able to gain more knowledge to help them in real-world application and/or for college. So, we the people, the students, we who are truly affected by this issue, know what we need to do as a nation to improve academics of our nation, but we need to start somewhere. This, is that somewhere. The prosperity of our children marks the American dream… To enjoy life and succeed!
Superintendent's presentation on the budget:
GC research on budget information relating to Malden:
Goal: Revise Formula to make sure funds go where they are needed.
Root Cause: Chapter 70 Formula is outdated and ineffective.
What is the Chapter 70 Formula?
What is the Issue of the Chapter 70 Formula?
- The Chapter 70 Formula has not been updated since it's creation in 1993. This means that certain areas in schools and some schools themself, don't get enough money for what they need.
What we're doing: We are researchingWhere the Money Should Go:
We conducted a survey to ask teachers where they think the money for school funding should go. The results are below:
Budget Meetings:
At the most recent meetings, they discussed about the amount of money that has not been raised and with this, costs have risen and there will be cuts that will not interfere. Teachers may be cut due to the amount of children in classes. They are trying to figure out how to operate with 2.5 million dollars less. 21-28 teachers may be cut or all exploritories may be dismantled (art, music, etc.)
Who We Contacted:
Supporters:
Mr. Brown point of view on the school funding issue, students opinions, the budget, others' views, and Chapter 70:
‘’More teachers for pathways program. More technology, ipads, laptops, chromes. Higher job coach/intern coordinator. Right now we are in good shape but for the upcoming year, I am afraid teachers are going to get cut.”“Students in the school would have different opinions depending on maturity level and the way they were brought up.” “Teachers need more materials. Teachers are spending too much of their own money on school materials.” “The fund is governed by the government, and there is only so much the school can give.” “Sometimes people complain about things we don’t have info on. I happen to think this is a very good school both inside and from an outside point of view."“Chapter 70 should be updated and so should the charter schools. The city itself isn’t really contributing with the school. It’s not about how much money we have it’s how we use it. Are we using it the right way?”
Mr. Mastrangelo point of view on the needs in school: “Increase in teachers/staff, We don’t need to update curriculum, just have to focus on increasing the teachers and staff and maintaining the facilities and student programs. We could use more teachers in the math, english, science, and history departments.” “It would give us a better student to teacher ratio." “We didn’t have enough money to keep the teachers.” “Having an ipad for every student would help.”
“Sports programs are pretty good, there are no user fees, and we offer a lot of different sports.”
Below is a letter we wrote to the Departement Head of School Funding:
To whom it may concern,
In History class, we are currently working on our Generation Citizen project. Our class is researching where school budget money goes and how it works, and our class is also taking steps towards diverting those school budgets to necessary areas which will help the students of MHS and students in general get the education they need and deserve. So please, we ask of you, if you so kindly could accept, to support us in our steps towards a solution to the issue of school funding in any way possible. If you have an opinion on the matter we would love to hear your stance on this issue, and you can contact us at titiflores115@gmail.com
Thank You,
Tricia Garcia Flores
On The Behalf Of Mr. Copithorne's U.S. History, Honors Class
School Funding. What is more pivotal to our nation than the education of students? They are our future, as times pass, society advances. Soon, the working adults of now will be replaced by the current students. School funding is necessary as without it, students are unable to reach their full potential. This is crucial for the true advancement of us as a nation. Our cause is one that came to fruition, not out of whim, but by careful thought and planning. We are not here pleading or begging for more funding, but what we need is to improve budget placement, as students need more to learn more to be able to succeed in this new world of technology and knowledge-required world. Students are in need of better a learning environment to better their mind for the upcoming real world. The average number of students per teacher declined from 16.0 in 2011–12 to 15.9 in 2012–13, which means while the drop may seem low, it’s there, meaning that less students are getting the help they need. Thought, while we may be but mere students, children really, we understand what we ask of you. We have even reached out to our superintendent of school and we also went as far as contacting our own mayor, which gave us a very in-depth understanding of the issue we are advocating for. So, while we have the superintendent and mayor on our sides, we ask of you as well for support, as its greatly needed and appreciated. School funding is a major problem as students aren’t receiving the education they want, deserve, and need. If the issue of school funding is dealt with, teachers can be hired, textbooks can be bought, more technology for the students can be received, and it is proven with more funding, schools have a higher rate of graduation and students are able to gain more knowledge to help them in real-world application and/or for college. So, we the people, the students, we who are truly affected by this issue, know what we need to do as a nation to improve academics of our nation, but we need to start somewhere. This, is that somewhere. The prosperity of our children marks the American dream… To enjoy life and succeed!
Sources: